A long time Austria was considered to be Corona-Hotspot – most of all because of the particularly affected by the Virus ski resort of Ischgl. Since then, it has recovered in the Alpine Republic of Corona. Now, scientists have characterized the course of the pandemic in Austria followed. The data could be in the case of a threat of a second Corona wave of great Benefit also for other countries.
The analysis was carried out by scientists from the Agency for health and food safety (AGES) in Austria. On the basis of surveys of positive people tested have you tried to document as accurately as possible, where the Virus started and how it subsequently in the country has spread.
Researchers represent the course of Infection as the root of the tree
Out of the 169 clusters are reached, wherein each of the clusters for a clustering of cases within a certain period of time is space in a particular Region. As a result, the infection can happen over time and geographically, to classify and to delineate.
Within each cluster, the scientists have created so-called TRANS-mission chains. They are similar to a family tree and show how the Coronavirus in a particular Cluster, more or less over generations, has spread.
The researchers give an example: In a Cluster, the first Infected came with symptoms of a Cold back from Italy. Four days after his return to Austria, he had been on the Coronavirus tested. Within 24 hours of the positive test result had been. The Affected person was immediately quarantined. However, he had already at that time social contacts and some of these people attached to.
The Italy returnees, in this particular Cluster of the first Generation, and thus the source of the Virus, during which infected individuals constitute the second Generation (follow-on cases). A total of six generations arising in this Cluster (See image). 
AGES, EMS
Homes for the elderly, household and leisure activities most affected by Corona
The scientists were able to zurordnen the 169 Cluster, eleven areas where the Coronavirus has spread. 
AGES
From the 13. Calendar week (mid-March) have spread the Virus locally, especially in the semi-public area. Since then, not a single case had been recorded in addition, in connection with Arriving from abroad. Especially in front of all of the budget (29) and leisure activities (15) were affected according to the researchers, in addition to nursing homes (57 clusters) have been. The latter would also be attributed to infection histories, which began in the ski resorts of Ischgl and Sankt Anton am Arlberg.
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It is noteworthy that not a single Cluster of schools and day care centers maps. There is barely affected children, said Daniela Schmid, infectious disease login and head of the Department of Surveillance and epidemiology of AGES, the Austrian news Agency APA. If at all, would be assigned to the children of the household-Cluster, since you would have is often in the budget.
The researchers draw from their results several conclusions:
- Infected can transmit the Virus before you even notice symptoms.
- The Transfer is usually within a few days (3 to 5 days) – this time interval, the Detection of contact persons do a race with the time.
- A Transfer is made, if there are multiple people for long periods of time (a total of about 15 minutes) are in the same place.
- For most of the clusters, so-called point explosions make (a Person stands at the beginning of a transmission chain; it has longer contact to other people, it comes to further Transfers).
- Quarantine measures and restrictions to show the effect detected in a Timely manner, ends the Transmission.
- There are currently no TRANS-mission chains, which show a Transfer by public transport or visiting a business.
imago images/Eibner Europa In Austria are numerous shops since the middle of April re-opened.
Measures selectively Lockdown may be superfluous
Using the data can be used to identify when an impending second Corona-wave Hotspots faster and Containment measures (e.g. quarantine, clearance rules, mechanical barriers) targeted to the chain of infection break down more quickly.
The findings could also provide for other countries, an approach for further investigations. So, for example, in Germany, could be used, if the infection gradients to the source to identify measures in the future in certain areas. Under certain circumstances, a General Lockdown could be, even in the case of the cases to prevent. Above all, it would win time in the fight against the Virus.
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